WTF: When Tanning Goes Terribly Wrong

1:11 pm - 05/02/2012

Recently, a New Jersey mom was arrested for allegedly allowing her six-year-old daughter to catch some rays in the tanning booth after her daughter told the school nurse that her sunburn came from “tanning with mommy.” Although the mom said her daughter’s sunburn happened the old-fashioned way—playing outside—authorities weren’t buying it. They charged Patricia Krentcil with Second Degree Child Endangerment, and she’s now fighting to clear her name.

Despite Krentcil’s claims that she didn’t allow her daughter to hop in the tanning bed, a crime for anyone under the age of 14 in New Jersey, there is one thing that has to be working against her case: Her face.

Judging by her appearance on camera, Krentcil has spent many a day in the booth, so much so that I thought she was in blackface when I first glanced at the accompanying picture.

While child endangerment is a serious charge, I couldn’t stop myself from laughing hysterically as Krentcil explained the situation to her local news affiliate. I give them props, though. Throughout the entire news report no one mentioned her noticeably leathery skin or the fact that she looks utter ridiculous with her burnt sienna skin and too-blonde hair.

Although I can’t really comment on whether or not she endangered her child, judging by Krentcil’s skin she looks like she’s done enough damage to herself to last a lifetime.

I'm really not, and when losing or gaining weight or recovering from an eating disorder becomes as simple ceasing to use a tanning bed, I'll accept your analogy. She put her daughter in danger and apparently doesn't even know how to prevent or treat a severe sunburn. I'm having a hard time mustering sympathy for her.

Not that it excuses her behavior regarding her daughter. But seeing as you've already admitted that she likely has underlying issues, I still don't see why pointing and laughing is the appropriate way to stop her obsessive tanning.